Apparatus for the simultaneous manufacture and filling of packages



Nov. 1, 1960 J. DECKERS 2,958,171

APPARATUS FOR THE SIMULTANEOUS MANUFACTURE AND FILLING OF PACFAGES 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 16, 1957 par-1 A 4 Nov. '1, 1960 J. DECKERSAPPARATUS FOR THE SIMULTANEOUS MANUFACTURE Filed July 16, 1957- ANDFILLING OF PACKAGES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 APPARATUS FOR THE SIMULTANEOUSMANU- FACTURE AND FILLING F PACKAGES Joseph Deckers, Rue 'Chri 39,Liege, Belgium Filed July 16, 1957, Ser. No. 672,195

Claims priority, application Belgium July 20, 1956 3 Claims. (Cl.53-140) The present invention relates to a method of simultaneousproduction and filling of a package of substantially any size up to acapacity of 1 litre or more.

The present method is based on the extrusion of a synthetic substancewhich is generally of the thermoplastic type, and on the gradual settingof the package while the same is being filled, the package thus producedand filled usually then being closed merely by the application ofpressure at the level of the flap of the unset packing.

The present method has nothing in common with the formation of verysmall diameter ampoules obtained by an operation closely resembling anejection, the contents being surrounded substantially instantaneouslyand completely by the usually gelatinous substance forming thecontainer. This known method cannot be used for the production ofpackages adapted to replace conventional packages for liquid, pasty,powdery, finely divided or even solid or sol-idifiabl-e substances.

It is, therefore, one object of the present invention to provide amethod wherein the gelatinous substance, While being maintained in asuitable state of plasticity, as a rule by heating, is passed through atube, a conduit extending axially therethrough at one end, the saidconduit supplying the substance for filling the subsequent packing, thearrangement being such that the plastic substance is delivered as atubular element in direct communication with the said conduit, thesemeans being associated with means for elfecting a closure at both endsof the said packing and for separating the pack-ings from the piece ofsubstance issuing through the machine.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a method,wherein in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the method, theplastifiable substance is disposed in a recipient surrounded by a jacketbounding a heating chamber adapted to receive a heating fluid; therecipient is connected to a source or generator of a pressure fluidadapted to apply to the substance in the plastic state a pressure effectsuch that the substance is forced through at least one delivery pipe, ofthe kind hereinbefore described, suitable for the formation and fillingof the packages.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide anydevice adapted to carry the method set forth above into effect; themeans for displacing the plastic substance and for efiecting thedelivery of the same as a tubular element and for performing the fillingand closure at both ends of the successive packings can be varied withinwide limits and will become apparent from this invention inasmuch asthey apply to the aforesaid process.

With these and other objects in view which will become apparent in thefollowing detailed description, the present invention will be clearlyunderstood in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 are axial sections of the apparatus brieflyillustrating four distinctive phases of the method;

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view in vertical section of the main elementsof the extrusion apparatus, suitable for Fatentecl Nov. 1, 1960 thesystematic application of the method according to the present invention;and

Figure 6 illustrates diagrammatically the various parts of an industrialplant adapted to perform the method automatically from the extrusion tothe storage of the filled packings.

Referring now to the drawings and in particular to Figs. 1 to 4, anextruder has a head 1; and, extending axially thereof, two concentrictubes 2, 3; the first tube is stationary and the second tube can bereciprocated axially.

The base 4 of the extruder head 1 and the bottom end of the tube 2define an annular drawing die 5. The tube 2 is either permanentlyconnected to the atmosphere or communicates with a pressure fluidsource. The central tube 3 communicates with the source or storagedevice of the substance to be packed (not shown) and can reciprocatevertically at a predetermined amplitude. A sealing and severing devicerepresented by jaws 6, 7 is disposed at a suitable distance below thebase 4. A recipient 8 containing a cooling and supporting liquid for thepackage being produced is disposed at a suitable distance below the saidsealing jaws 6 and 7.

The drawings disclose the main phases of the method are as follows:

The package-forming material is extruded through the drawing die 5 toform a tubular piece 9, the cross-sectional shape and dimensions ofwhich are essentially variable. The piece 9 is extended over a height Hdetermined in relationship with the length of the package to be producedand with the relative position betwen the base 4 of the extruder, thejaws 6, 7 and the level of the cooling and supporting liquid in therecipient 8.

According to a main feature of the method according to the presentinvention, during this first extruding phase a fluid, usually air, issupplied, usually at atmospheric pressure, by suction through theannular space defined between the two concentric tubes 2, 3. During thisextrusion operation the axial tube 3 is in its highest position or isgradually following the descending movement of the base of the extrudedpiece 9. The lower part thereof is suitably supported and cooled in therecipient 8 by any suitable means, for instance, by dipping, spraying,blowing, wetting, aspiration or other means, that is, it is hardened,while the region level with the jaws 6, 7 still remains relatively hot.This is the state illustrated in Figure 1. During extrusion the axialconduit 3 is moved progressively into its lowest position so that itsbottom end stops near the bottom of the extruded piece 9 (Fig. 2). Thesubstance to be packed is supplied to the piece 9 and the same ischarged from the bottom upwards, the axial tube 3 gradually rising ascharging proceeds.

As is shown more particularly in Fig. 2, during this progressivecharging the fluid, that is, the air in the piece 9 is removed throughthe annular space defined between the concentric tubes 2, 3.

As can be seen in Fig. 3, which represents the next phase of theprocess, the charging is stopped at a level below that of the jaws 6, 7,and the axial tube 3 is empty of the substances which it contains eitherbecause the initial division of the package product has started orbecause there has been produced in the axial tube 3 a suction effectadapted to empty the tube 3 completely without aflecting the productcontained in the extruded piece 9.

As can be seen in Fig. 4, the jaws 6, 7 are moved together to produce onthe corresponding part of the extruded piece 9 a cutting effect suchthat the filled and treated package 10 is completely closed and alsoseparated from the extruded piece 9,

The various phases can be repeated continuously at a relatively highrate depending, of course, on the number of applications.

The various phases of the operating method just described can of coursebe efiected through the agency of very many and various means.

In Fig. is shown in vertical sectional View of an industrial plant inwhich all the aforesaid elements are incorporated, including theextruding head 1, the concentric tubes 2, 3, the base 4 of the extrudinghead 1, the annular drawing die 5 through which the extruded substancepasses, the sealing and clamping jaws 6, 7 and the cooling recipient 8.

The present method and the present apparatus can be used in fullyautomatic plants, the constituent parts and functions of which should beadapted to each special application. Fig. 6 illustrates diagrammaticallythe main parts of an automatic industrial plant for large-quantityhigh-speed production of packages adapted to receive any product whichis inert with respect to the extrusion substance. This plant has theextrusion head 1 with all the elements shown more particularly in Fig. 5or any equivalent elements or elements of equivalent operation.

The extrusion head is of course connected to an extrusion press 11 andthe tube 2 is permanently connected to the atmosphere by means of aby-pass 1.2 so that atmospheric air can enter or leave it. Of course itwould be possible to consider in some cases a mechanical pressurising ordepressurising of the air in dependence upon the operational phases. Thevertically reciprocable axial tube 3 communicates through an appropriateconduit '13 with the tank or source of the product to be packaged, byway of a solenoid valve 14 which controls the feed of the product to bepackaged. The valve 14 is controlled by a variable-height photoelectriccell 16 by means of a relay 15 which controls in turn the head of theextrusion press. The cell 16 is disposed opposite an aperture 17contrived in the cooling and supporting fluid recipient 8 at a levelwhich corresponds to that out by the bottom edge of the package duringthe sealing or cutting phase of the finished or charged package. Theaperture 17 is disposed opposite another aperture 18 contrived in theopposite surface of the recipient 8. The apertures 17, 18 are covered bytransparent walls 19 and 20, respectively, and opposite the aperture 18,that is, in the axis of the cell 16, there is disposed an energisinglamp 21, the height of which will be preferably adjustablesimultaneously with the height of the cell 16.

Opening into the recipient 8 is a conduit 22 adapted to connect therecipient 8 permanently to means for producing therein a water flow formaintaining the temperature within predetermined limits. The recipient 8extends into the casing 23 of a scraper conveyor 24 having an outletconduit 25 for closing the said cooling circuit. The conveyor 24 extendsto above the top of the supply end of a second conveyor 26, the top runof which moves opposite drying means 27, for instance, a row ofinfra-red lamps. The conveyor 26 extends to above the supply end ofanother conveyor 2%, the top run of which moves opposite a printingpress 29. Finally, the conveyor 28 effects a delivery to a recipient 30or to crates, boxes or other suitable means for receiving the filledpackages.

During the entire operation the cooling water is maintained at aconstant level A-A by any means known per se. The level is maintainedconstant automatically since, when the bottom edge of the extruded piece9 reaches the level of the energising lamp 21, that is, the level of thecell 16, the relay 15 and solenoid valve 19 cause the admission of theproduct to be packaged simultaneously with the upward movement of theaxial tube 3. The extruded piece is cooled and set automatically bybeing dipped into the cooling liquid.

The method is developed as hereinbefore described.

The filled package, after severance from the extruded piece, drops withdamping into the cooling liquid, reaches the conveyor 24, is dried whilemoving on the conveyor 26, receives an imprint While moving on theconveyor 28 and is then stored or packed.

Of course, this installation is given solely by way of example and themethod according to the present invention can be carried into eflect byany other means or in any other installations, although such means andinstallations, if they apply the method according to the presentinvention, form an integral part thereof.

While I have disclosed one embodiment of the present invention, it is tobe understood that this embodiment is given by example only and not in alimiting sense, the scope of the present invention being determined bythe objects and the claims.

What I claim is:

1. An apparatus for the simultaneous manufacture and filling of packagesin an extrudable material with a product, comprising in combination,means for extruding the said package-forming material through an annulardrawing die, means for admitting a fluid into the said extruded memberduring the extrusion operation, means for cooling and supporting thebottom part of the said member during its extrusion, means forintroducing the product to be packaged into the said extruded member,means for sealing and cutting the package thus charged, means disposedat the bottom predetermined level reached by the bottom edge of theextruded member and comprising a photoelectric cell disposed in acircuit including a relay controlling the head of said extruding means,a solenoid valve and an energizing lamp, said solenoid valve controllingthe feeding of said product into said package.

2. An apparatus for the simultaneous manufacture and filling of packagesin an extrudable material of a product, comprising in combination, meansfor extruding the said package-forming material through an annulardrawing die, means for admitting a fluid into the said extruded memberduring the extrusion operation, means for cooling and supporting thebottom part of the said member during its extrusion comprising a coolingand supporting liquid, means for introducing the product to be packagedinto the said extruded member, means for sealing and cutting the packagethus charged, and means for controlling the said operations andcomprising a photoelectric cell and an energizing lamp, which aredisposed at a level below that of said cooling and supporting liquid ofthe bottom part of the said extruded memher.

3. An apparatus for the simultaneous manufacture and filling of packagesin an extrudable material of a product, comprising in combination, meansfor extruding the said package-forming material through an annulardrawing die, means for admitting a fluid, usually air, into the saidextruded member during the extrusion operation, means for cooling andsupporting the bottom part of the said extruded member during itsextrusion comprising a cooling and supporting liquid, means forintroducing the product to be packaged into the said extruded memberduring the charging operation, means for sealing and cutting the packagethus charged, a container receiving said cooling liquid, and controlmeans comprising a photoelectric cell placed opposite an aperturecontrived in one of the Walls of the said container, and an energizinglamp disposed opposite an aperture contrived in an opposite wall of saidcontainer.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,310,413 Friden Feb. 9, 1943 2,379,816 Mabbs July 3, 1945 2,732,988Feinstein Jan. 31, 1956 2,816,837 Holsman Dec. 17, 1957

